CDT – Day 20 – Grants to M549.1

Totals

107 Lizards

43 Elk

10 Deer

9 Horny Roads

7 Squirrels

7 Chipmunks

7 Jack Rabbit

7 Cotton Tail Rabbits

5 Snakes

3 Coyotes

2 Toads

1 Mouse

1 Skunk

1 Rattle Snake

Two big things to mention today. First up my new shoes didn’t arrive in time. I was told they would arrive between 7 am and 2 pm. UPS had other ideas and said by 7 pm. After waiting around all day until 2 pm I had enough.

A little back story on trying to get these new bigger shoes. I order one pair only to have the customer service guy ship them to my apartment in Carbondale. Those were stopped and a second pair were shipped but to me in Grants, NM.

This second pair was too late for my liking so they will be returned. So now a third pair are shipping to Cuba,NM and “should” be waiting for me when I get there in 4 days.

All this to get shoes! You’re probably wondering why I didn’t just wait for the first pair. Waiting around would have meant probably another night in a motel, more money spent, and hours of me fighting the urge to be hiking. I get very restless if I sit too long while out here. I also don’t sleep worth a crap inside once I’ve been out here this long.

Beautiful tread towards the end of the day.

Second note worthy thing is I saw my first Rattle Snake! He was just a little thing but I didn’t see him until I was about 2′ away from him and he was pissed. He rattled and coiled back as you can see in this picture.

Lastly I should mention I messed up big time and because my pack was already heavy as it was I only took about three liters of water out of town. The next water maybe 17 miles from tonight‘s camp and I already used some of the 3 liters. Total shit show.

View point of Mt. Taylor

I’m going to bed with a slight headache as is so I might already be dehydrated.

First rattlesnake of the trip.

Tonight I’m camped with Memphis, Chilton, and Chimichanga. I met them at the Motel 6 and hung out most of yesterday afternoon with them. Chimichanga shared my room as they had four of them in their room. We all had Denny’s this morning.

Today was a highly frustrating day.  If I hadn’t been waiting for shoes I would have left town right after breakfast.  As I mentioned I don’t enjoy sitting around town.  When I finally did decide to leave town without my new shoes it seemed to take forever.  Grants was nice enough but I just wanted to be in the woods.

I really enjoyed the last part of the day.  Being back in the woods and in the trees was bliss.  

Back to Day 19, Forward to Day 21

Scatman